Abstract
In June 2011, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) announced Community Feed-In Tariffs (COMFIT) for various renewable energy developments, including small-scale tidal energy. This innovative government policy gives communities/developers a long-term, guaranteed price for electricity generated from renewable resources. UARB also released developmental tidal feed-in tariff rates for large scale projects in November, 2013.
There were many questions around how communities and businesses in Nova Scotia can benefit from tidal energy development. To address some of these questions the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute, with support from municipal, provincial and federal partners, has developed the Community and Business Toolkit for Tidal Energy Development. The Toolkit will assist communities and businesses in better understanding the opportunities stemming from tidal energy while encouraging responsible harvesting of tidal energy resources.
An addendum to the toolkit, a Tidal Energy Community Engagement Handbook, was produced as a step-by-step guide to community engagement for usage by all stakeholders involved in tidal power development.
The Community and Business Toolkit for Tidal Energy Development contains a series of modules that describe opportunities and strategies for communities and businesses to become involved in tidal energy development. The modules also provide relevant advice, checklists and links.